Great Mainz Jupiter Column

About

The Great Mainz Jupiter Column is the most elaborate Roman Jupiter monument discovered in the German-speaking world, celebrating divine power and civic pride. Erected in the second half of the 1st century CE in Mogontiacum—modern-day Mainz—the column originally stood over 12 meters tall and featured a statue of Jupiter atop a richly decorated shaft. Crafted from Lorraine limestone, it was adorned with 28 reliefs depicting Roman and Celtic deities, symbolizing the cultural fusion of the region. The column was likely destroyed in late antiquity, possibly by early Christians, and rediscovered in over 2,000 fragments during excavations in 1904–1905. Today, the reconstructed original is housed in the Landesmuseum Mainz, while a replica stands near the State Parliament building. The Great Mainz Jupiter Column remains a powerful testament to Roman religious life and the artistic sophistication of provincial craftsmanship.

Mainz Germany

Location

The Great Mainz Jupiter Column, or Jupitersäule, is displayed in the Landesmuseum Mainz (Staatliches Museum), located at Große Bleiche 49–51 in the western section of Mainz’s city center, with a full-scale replica standing outdoors near Schillerplatz for public viewing. This monumental Roman column, originally erected in ancient Mogontiacum, rises over 12 meters high and is richly decorated with reliefs of deities, making it one of Germany’s most significant Roman-era monuments. The column’s museum setting places it close to Schillerplatz with its iconic Fastnachtsbrunnen, the picturesque pedestrian area, and top Mainz attractions including the Gutenberg Museum, Christuskirche, and vibrant market quarters. Visitors enjoy immediate access to further archaeological exhibitions, shopping streets, and historic Old Town highlights within a short stroll.